Amendment1_Response_to_Questions.pdf

NIHES2009078 Amendment 1

Responses to all questions received are provided below.

NOTE: The date and time for receipt of proposals remains unchanged. All proposals must be received by the Contracting Office listed in the solicitation no later than November 20, 2009 at 2:00 P.M. EST.

1. Does the software have to be currently used in this field or can it be a modified product from another field?

Response: Yes, this requirement is for a commercial software system that is currently being used in the toxicology field.

2. Does the software have to be “Open source software - Open source software should be used to allow for easier adoption of new technologies” or would you consider a SQL solution developed using Microsoft tools?

Response: No, the software does not have to be “open source”. “Open source” is merely a recommendation.

3. Is there a minimum number of starting users that I can use for pricing?

Response: As listed on page 3 of the solicitation under “B. Prices/Costs, Item 1”, offerors are asked to provide the price for 100 users.

4. Does an acceptable solution require the application of a commercial system currently in the marketplace as stated in the SOW?

Response: Yes, as stated in the Statement of Work (SOW), this requirement is for a commercial software system currently being used in the marketplace.

5. Have you identified a preferred off the shelf application to support the NTP system?

Response: No. Although market research has identified the availability of this requirement in the commercial marketplace, no “off the shelf” application has been identified that would support the NTP system.

6. Does the instructions for Alternate Proposals, Section V.B.4. require that a proposal offering an alternate solution must also include a commercial system solution with an Oracle database?

Response: As stated in the instructions for Alternate Proposals under Section V.B.4., “you may, at your discretion, submit alternate proposals, or proposals which deviate from the requirements; provided that you also submit a proposal for performance of the work as specified in the statement of work”.

NIHES2009078 Amendment 1

7. Is a hosted Oracle database for all toxicology data a firm requirement?

Response: Yes, an Oracle database is a firm requirement for this procurement.

8. Does the SOW requirement for open source software reconcile with a commercial system and an Oracle database?

Response: See response to question 2 above.

9. Can we assume the Information System Security Plan (ISSP) will be required 90 days after contract award and not submitted as part of the proposal?

Response: A draft Information System Security Plan (ISSP) must be submitted as part of the proposal. As stated in the Technical Proposal Instructions under Information Security item 3.g., “The offeror must include a draft ISSP”. The solicitation further states that “the resultant contract will require the draft ISSP to be finalized no later than 90 calendar days after contract award”.

10. In reference to NIHES2009078, it is not clear where NIEHS expects the software to be installed. In order to price correctly we need to know whether the software is installed on NIEHS servers OR whether the system is to be installed on CONTRACTOR-SUPPLIED host computers in a CONTRACTOR-CONTROLLED server environment.

Response: The system is to be installed on CONTRACTOR-SUPPLIED host computers in a CONTRACTOR-CONTROLLED server environment.